The Sun. — London, England, 1864-10-19 00:00:00

The Powder Magazines at Purfleet, Just now public attention is keenly directed to a thorough examination of the conditions under which powder is stored in Government and private maga zines, and the precautions which are or ought to be taken to mitigate the risk with which the mere prey Bence of these tremendous mines threatens whole districts. That great good will ultimately arise from this investigation cannot be doubted for a moment, and if the evidence given at the Belvedere inquiry as to the neglect of proper care in Mr Hall's magazines is to be relied on, the public can• not be too earnest in their efforts for complete and searching inquiry. At any rate, the question has not been of their raising, but has, on the contrary, been forced on their attention in the most terrible manner possible. The appalling proofs of the ex plosion spread far and wide round Erith show the danger in which the inhabitants have lived, and the evidence given at the inquiry shows them also the hourly peril in which they must be content to dwell for the future, unless these terrible storehouses are better built and better regulated than they seem to have been in the case of the magazines on Erith marshes. We do not for a moment entertain the belief that it will ever be possible to do away with powder magazines, and magazines, too, containing vast stores of powder collected on one spot. Bread is not more necessary to our individual life than gunpowder is to our national. Good powder is only to be got from England. Our export trade of this explosive material is larger than that of all the rest of the world, while, peaceful people as we are, our annual consumption in fleets, forts, and colonies is almost as great as that of all the rest of Europe put together. But we apprehend that those who have been ruined round Erith would not for a second deny the necessity for large powder maga zines ; and as a rule powder when in the magazines is in the safest place which experience or human ingenuity ca❑ devise to store it. It is from powder in transit that all the danger really arises. It is the lax state of the law as to powder barges, or what are used as much—the lax state of the law as to what number of barrels they shall carry, and what re gulations shall be enforced as to lights and fires on board, which not only endangers the magazines to which they are bound, but actually perils the very existence of the metropolis itself in their passage up the Thames. The inquiry into the general manage ment of those powder barges of private firms cannot be too searching, nor the regulations under which in future the perilous traffic should be carried on too strict or too rigidly enforced. Since the disaster at Erith a great deal has been said as to the general management of the Govern ment magazines at Purfleet, and all sot ts of state• meats have appeared as to the quantity of powder which is kept there, and the risks to which it is exposed. We propose, therefore, to give the public a plain account of how Purfleet is managed and what it contains. If, on the one hand, we state that the powder stored there is enormous—enough in quantity to appal the boldest when they think of the chances of accident—on the other hand, we shall be bound to admit that everything which the ex perience of a century, the progress of science, and even imaginative and over-scrupulous fears can sug gest in the way of precaution should be adopted. If ever Purfleet blows up—and if it does London will be the first to know it—the accident will not be caused by Purfleet proper, but will be due to some one or other of the barges always landing or receiv ing powder there. The quantity of powder that blew up at Erith the other day was less than 1,000 barrels, or short of 50 tons. The quantity that Purfleet stores is 52,000 barrels, or two thousand three hundred tons. It is not the largest magazine in the kingdom. There is another, within four miles of one of our most important seaport towns, which stores nearly four thousand tons. This latter, however, is a mere surplus storehouse, which is rarely opened—a vault where the powder is en tombed and carefully guarded. Another, which we have no scruple in mentioning, for its situation is a disgrace to the Admiralty—Upnor Castle—contains some 1,500 or 1,600 tons of powder. Sheerness and Chatham, with their foes and dockyards, would cease to be even geographical expressions if any. thing went wrong with the constantly opened ma gazine which is in their midst under Upnor Castle. There are other magazines, too, in different parts of the kingdom, which are as large as Purfleet; but these are mere e., storehouses, which are seldom opened or required but in time of war. The importance of Put fleet consists in its being the great receiving house where every atom of powder used by the Government—whether made at their own works at Waltham Abbey, or privately at Dartford, Faversham, and Hounslow—is landed, examined, tested, and if approved, passed into store, and if rejected returned at once to the barges. Thus in the ordinary fulfilment of its duties not a day passes without the magazine being open—scarcely a day in which it has not been either to test, receive, or send away loads of powder. When first esta blished, a century ago, the magazine was isolated from everything. Now there is a village close to it, and beautiful villas are scattered over the country around it far and near. The ground occupied by the Government is about 25 acres, and this is mostly moated round and walled and rewailed in almost a series of concentric circles about the magazines. There is a permanent guard of two officers and 80 men, with a large staff of watchmen, coopers, storekeepers, overseers, clerks, &e , all of whom with their wives and families live within the walls in the " garrison," as it is termed. Every one, no matter how remotely connected with the works in this part of the garrison, even the tailor who makes the flannel dress, and the shoemaker who stitches the soft leather shoes to be worn in the magazine, is on the staff, and has to conform to the rules of being within the wails before 9, and having all lights and fires out in the quarters by 10 30. Yet, large as is this staff, the " powder.men," the actual workers in the magazines, are only 19 in number, and all these are the sons, and, in come cases, the grandsons of those Rho first worked here. They have lived among powder all their lives, and are familiar with every thing but its explosive character, for at Purfleet, as at all Government magazines, there has never been an accident. The first accident here would be the last, and would lay half Kent, Middlesex, and Surrey in ruins. The visitor who is fortunate enough to obtain the rarely accorded permission to inspect these magazines is taken charge of by no less a per• son than the chief of the establishment, Mr Cleave, whose vigilance regards even a visitor as a possible source of danger, and therefore to be intrusted to no hands save his own. Passing through the sentrres and a series of doors you come to one at which the _ . watchman is on duty, which admits to a small turfed enclosure between high walls, where a sentry is pac• ing on a little strip of asphalte laid in the grass. This is the last of the sentries, for near at hand is the magazine ground, where, to the cautions eyes of the powder men, a sentry with his steel equipments would be regarded with as much favour as a bonfire. Beyond the sentry is a small cooperage which leads to a long, low, narrow room with a wooden partition, about 2 feet high, running across the floor, separating one end from the other. At the end you enter hang workmen's clothes and shoes; at the other be- yond the partition, which is magazine ground, nothing but flannel dresses and soft leather shoes are kept. At the farther end of the room you leave your walking-stick or umbrella, or knife, or any thing that is of iron or stiel. Here, too, for the s m im d7 reason you pull off your boots, and in case of or grit bein g on y our d ress h ave f urt h ermore t o clothe yoursslt in a loose flAnnel blouse and trousers. Then only-,do you step over the partition to put on a pair of the soft stitched leather boots. Having thus fuliilltd all the strict conditions which the duty of the " clothesmsa" imposes on yo u , h e o p ens the last door o f all, which grass-rown enclosure admits you to a spacious , cr a o n s d sc . d in all directions with lit tic wooden Pllo"9:ab7i,nd.sioonk.the centre of which stand five largo, great lightnin gyo ut conductors ieer:ii have no windows but if justnppowder w asee e : many ° g buildings. Th all their doors are open, and through th© half gloom the silencee"binsi barrels stacked in blocks like g i gantic Nothing strikes the visitor more than the nasgazines this place. The 19 powder-men employed here areo all bogy, for at the wharf in front of the one vessel has to be loaded, and another unloAded, so that the passage of the copper barrows, each with their two barrels of powder, is incessant, yet still there is no noise. The barrows wove silently, and the men, in their sof t s h oes, seem to glide over the polished woodwork without a sound. Not a word is spoken, and the dry creaking of the barrels in the magazines, as they are moved from tier to tier, come with a sound which is here almost noise. Occasion ally, as some less full than others are lifted down, one can hear the dry hissing rattle of the grains as they turn over, but this, and the actual creaking of the somewhat thin barrels, and the soft rumble of the trucks taking them away, is all that can be distin guished. Outside, on the wharf, one can hear the sound of gentle hammering, with occasional words of direction, but within the magazines themselves all is as quiet, and almost as dark as night. There is a regularity, a method, and an evidence of careful supervision everywhere, which insensibly imparts a feeling of perfect security even in the gloomiest of the high, narrow passages which wind among the stacks of powder. The external aspect of these magazines, with their lean-to roofs and stable-looking architecture, gives no idea of their real features of construction. To use a familiar image, each magazine is constructed like two railway arches, which are built of the strength called bomb proof, and afterwards covered over with the sloping roof and walls with which all acquainted with the river are so familiar. There are five of these buildings, and each is fitted to allow the storage of 44 " lots" of 200 barrels in each lot, with two end lots of 400 barrels, making the contents of each magazine 10,400 barrels, or 52,000 barrels in the whole five. Sometimes this quantity has been ex ceeded by 2,000 or 3,000 barrels being stored in the passages between the " lots" or bins, but it is always sought to avoid this if possible. As a general rule there is never more than 52,000 barrels nor less than 42,000. The latter quantity only is now in store. Though we speak of them as five magazines, yet in reality all five are one. There is not more than 50ft between each wall, and all are kept with open end and side doors during the day, except during the time the workmen are at dinner, when the thickly plated double copper doors are closed, and the keys resigned to Mr Cleeve, who alone of all the staff can enter the magazine at any hour of the day or night. Every lot or bin is numbered with the even numbers on one side, the odd on the other, and each lot contains solely the sample of one manufacture, whether private or Government, with the maker's name and date of its reception, and the letters " L. G.," "L. G. 1t.," and "E. R.," denoting large grain for common powder, large grain rifle for rifled guns, and "E. R." for the best kinds used only for Enfield rifles. Thus, so perfect is the system of s`oring that at any hour of the day or night the exact bins or lots can be found by the powder-men, and either stored away or taken out for shipment, In fact the maga. zines are generally so dark that daylight makes but little difference in the gloom of their interior, and during the Crimean war, when the demand for powder was loud and urgent, the powder-men in relays worked night and day through the darkest winter nights—as a matter of course without lights, but, what is not a matter of course, without ever making a single mistake as to the "lots" and quali ties ordered for shipment. In some of the gloomiest parts of the magazine a piece of copper framed in wood, like a hand mirror, and tinned over so as to reflect a light upon the name and number of the barrels, is kept fur use, but it is a mere formal piece of magazine furniture, and seldom called into requi sition, so well do the men know the exact position of each barrel It is almost needless to say that no lights or iron work of any kind are ever allowed to approach even the outer walls which enclose the magLzine building, and the most jealous scrutiny is maintained to see that not an atom of dust comes into the stores. The brickwork of the massive arches is lined with pegged boarding, which fits like cabinet work, to guard against the falling of a grain of dirt from the masonry. Incessantly are men employed in sweeping and sprinkling the wooden tramways not only inside the magazine, but on all the wooden paths around it. A careful examination of the refuse thus brought together by the brooms only shows a fluffy kind of mixture almost entirely composed of hair off the blankets used, or woo from the workmen's dresses. Of dust, in the ord 1 nary acceptation of the terrii, there is scarcely a truce, and of powder, or of any thing which could be supposed to resemble it, there is,absolutely nothing. The barrels are never rolled, but are wheeled in bar rows, as we have said, two at a time. A leaky pow der barrel is almost unknown at Put fleet, so rare is its occurrence, though some of the barrels have been in use E. ioce 1808 and 1813. When it does happen that a barrel leaks it is never placed in the maga zine, but at once removed in a hide to the examining house, and its contents changed to a new barrel. There can be no question, however, but that all powder barrels are made too slight, and that a law which will render it compulsory to have powder barrels water tight would at once do away with more than half the chances of accident from powder, especially when in transit from port to port or from mills to magazines. The great rules at Putficet are, first, that nothing but powder is admitted to the magazines —that is to say, that portfires, rockets, shells, arc. are e -, .cluded with as much vigilance as if they were lights. The second rule is, that no powder, not even half an ounce, is ever left out of the magazines ; the third, that nothing is ever done in a magazine but to lift in powder and lift it out . ... again. To attempt to open or cooper a cask in the magazine, which Messrs Curtis and Harvey's work men speaks of as being done habitually by them, would at Purfleet lead to instant and final dismissal. It is impossible to condemn this practice of working in the magazines too strongly. In one important respect, however, Fur Let has departed from its safe and wholesome rule of not admitting anything but powder to its magazines. Quarter-barrels and half barrels of rifle ball-cartridges are now often stored there. Considering that it is stili a doubtful ques. tion whether the greased cartridges do not heat when kept long in store, this deviation from the old rule seems at least to be questionable as regards its safety, In face of the gigantic issues at stake in case of an accident at Purfleet, would it not be more wise to avoid even a suspicion of calamity by storing the cartridges elsewhere ? For the rest, as far as general precautions are concerned, nothing stems to be neglected. The alarm-b4ll is rung when there is any appearance of thunder in the air, that the doors and all the apertures of the magazines may be closed at once. This precaution is a wise one, though it would savour much more of precaution in its real sense if the antiquated lightning conductors which now cover each low•lying magazine were at once removed from the buildings themselves and placed higher on poles around them. During the night the watchmen have to admit the guard out• side the magazine each hour, and the sentries them selves have to strike each quarter hour of their watch upon large bells, so that any want of vigi lance in this respect is so easily discovered that it becomes almost impossible. In fact, as regards the magazines the care which is taken of them leaves nothing to be suggested nor nothing to be desired, except, perhaps, that they were further away from London. Bat the Puifleet magazines have to be regarded from three points of view —first, as a place for the transhipment of powder to and fro; and, thirdly, as a place for testing powder. These are its three great working aspects as regards the Government, though as regards the general public there is still another view to be taken of the whole, which is Y.'urfleet as a place of safety. Looking only at Puffhet as a mere place of storage for ponder, there is no doubt that it is safe euougb. As far as its storage is cou- cerned there seems no chance of accident unless from " unavoidable calamity." What that calamity would be to England our readers may guess by bearing in mind that lees than 50 tons exploded at Erith, and that Purflcot, as a rule, stores 2,300 tons. As a place for testing powder, Purficet, with its tre mendous roaguz 7 .nes of explosives, seems objection- able. Government cannot manufacture much more than half the powder it requires at Waltham Abbey, and has therefore to buy at the rate of some 25,000 or 30,000 barrels a year from private firms. All this powder, whether from private houses or Waltham, is tested for cleanness, strength, and ab. sorption of moisture at Purfleet, the private firms being allowed to be 5 per cent. under the Govern- ment standard in each case, though why we cannot see. Supposing a firm to send in 1,000 barrels, 10 per cent., or 100 barrels, are opened, and a small sample taken from each, when all the samples are mixed together. These samples are inspected in the "examining room," which is a little apart from the magazines. It is lined with raw hides, and a bank of earth divides it from the powder.houses• Still, though the same care is used here as in the magazines, the mere fact of 200 barrels of powder being sometimes open at one time makes this a risky and objectionable feature of the Purfleet este. blishment. The samples taken are first tested for dust and dirt, and then for weight per cubic foot comparison with that of the Government. Having fulfilled these standards it is removed to a totally different part of the establishment outside the walls, where it is tested first for " flashing" on glass to see that it leaves no improper or foul residuum. Next two ounces of it are tested for strength in a small Gomer mortar, loaded with a 681 b. solid shot. The "L. G." powder (large grain) throws this shot 268 ft, the "F. G." (fine grain) 276 ft, the "E. R." (Enfield rifle, 320 ft, and the "A 4" or " L. G. R." (large grain rifle), with 3 ounces, throws it 266 ft. Any powder throwing the shot less than 240 ft is rejected. These, however, are not the only tests. What remains of the samples after firing is placed in chests bored on the top and sides with numerous holes—the Government powder being similarly placed in other chests. In this state it is left for 21 days to try its absorpa tion of moisture, when it is taken out and tested for strength again. If on this second and most severe trial it falls short of the strength of the Government powder by even throwing its shot six inches less, the whole is rejected. All these experi. ments are carried on some 500 yards away from the magazines, and are of course conducted with the utmost care. Still it is much to be wished that they could ho done somewhere else, and, above all, that the examining -house was far away, instead of, as now, close to the magazine. As a matter of course, the loading and shipment of powder goes on every day at Purfleet. On Wednesday last a barge was laden with 800 barrels and sent away. This loading with such a quantity canclusively proves one of two things—namely, that Mr James, the har bour-master of the port of London, knew nothing of the subject when he stated in his evidence at the Belvedere inquiry that 700 barrels are an illegal load; or, on the other hand, that the law as to the number of barrels is so little regarded that even the Govern.. ment habitual' transgress it. 600, 700, and 800 barrels, and even more, are not an uncommon load to arrive at Purfleet. Powder barges arriving at Purfleet are never let alongside the wharf till their lights and fires are out, which again shows that even the Government authorities recognise the use of lights and fires on board these craft. But no loading or unloading of powder is ever permitted at Purfleet unless at the hands of the Government powder-men themselves. The crews are always removed from the barges at once, and have a place regularly as signed to them outside the magazines, where there is a cookhouse, and where they can smoke. No barge, if : it can possibly be avoided, is allowed to remain at the wharf all night. If, however, it should be compelled to remain, the crew are brought on board at 9 o'clock, and have to turn in in the dark. When the powder is all on board and secured below, the barge is removed to a buoy in the river about 300 yards from the magazine. While at this buoy the crew can have their lights and fires, whether there is powder on board or not; yet an accident happening to a powder barge with 800 barrels on board at only 300 yards' distance from the magazine would be the same as if it happened in the msgszine itself. In this respect, and in this respect only, do the precautions at Purfleet appear less than they should be in the face of the tremendous havoc which would follow on any casualty. What would be the effect of an explosion at Purfleet it is almost impos sible to conceive as regards its damage to the river and the surrounding neighbourhood. What its effect would be in London may be approximately calcu lated by a consideration of the chemical rules relat ing to the explosion of gunpowder, and according to which the metropolis would certainly fare badly. Two thousand tons of powder would occupy 75,000 cubic feet of space, or equal to a pile of 100 ft long, 40ft wide, and 20ft high—quite the size of an ordi nary parish church. As powder at the moment of its explosion exerts an elastic force of 1,060 times the pressure of the atmosphere (15,0001 b to the square inch), the ignition of this quantity would in stantaneously liberate a force equal to 14 million tons. As the vibrations of force radiate equally in all directions, like those of light and heat, it neces. scarily follows that its intensity diminishes in pro portion as the circle of its radiation increases in dia. meter. Thus, taking the direct distance from London to Purfleet as 16 miles, an explosion taking place at the latter magazine would by the time it reached town be distributed over 10 billion square yards of surface, and therefore the mechanical effect of the shock to the houses in London would be a little over 31b per square yard of surface, or 2201 b on the front of an ordinary average dwelling-house. This would be augmented to a slight extent from the fact that the power of the shock would not radiate downwards, in consequence of the earth, and would react in other directions. The quantity of powder exploded at Erith on the occasion of the late catas trophe was 104,001 b, or 1,733 cubic feet ; this pro bably produced a force of 800,000 tons, and this, radiating to London, was spread over a space of 0,600,000 square yards, and reduced its effec!ive force on the houses of the metropolis to about 6oz per square yard. It may seem surprising to many that this small force should have been so distinctly felt; but when it is remembered that a very few doorpoundsesveexreerfteeedliinngboafngeoinngeuaiio will give rise to a very in most houses the surprise will cease. The pressure which would be exerted upon the houses of the metropolis by an exs plosion at Purfleet of Sib or 41b per square yard would probably be sufficient to break most windows facing in its direction, and houses would feel the shock very severely ; for though the pressure would not be more than that specified above, the w ave o f force arising from such a quantity of powder would be of great duration. Gravesend and Woolwich would probably be completely unroofed, and Erith vanish into air. It would be well if, while public attention is aroused on this subjact, the general conditions of what is called the powder wharf at Isleworth were considered. The amount sometimes accumulated there, and the regulations under which it is go. verned, should be inquired into; also if barges laden with powder barrels and with fire on board are not constantly in the habit of leaving there and dropping down the river with the tide till they anchor in the Thames in the midst of the city, or at Purfleet, or the Pool opposite the Docks. If any. thing happened to these barges while in what we may call city waters, our happy suburban friends would find the ruins of St Paul's somewhere in Copenhagen-fields.—limes. CARRIED AWAY BY A TIGER.—At 9 o'clock a.m. on the 24th of September a Malay, named Ningul, with four others, three men and one woman, all Malaya, left Campong Elari, which is situated on the right bank of the Sirangoon river, distant about a mile from the Siran goon station, No. 3. and entered the jungle to cut wood at a place called Sungie Siloo. While they were engaged in cutting wood a tiger sprang out of the jungle, se'z,d the man named Ningul, and was walking away with him. The others on seeing this gave chase and pursued the tiger for about a mile, when the animal threw its victim down and ran away. The Malays, on going to pick the man up found that life was extinct. The Duff►dars of Stations Nos. 2 and 3, Sirangoon, proceeded to Campong Elari to examine the body of deceased, when they observed that the neck was broken, and impressions of the tiger's claws visi ble on different parts of the body of deceased. —Straits Times. [AnynazlsnmExtr.]—Holloway's Pills.—Enjoyment of Life.—When the blo o d i s pure, its circulation perfect, and the nerves in good order, we are well. These pills possess a marvellous power in securing these great secrets of health by purifying, regulating, and strengthening fluids and solids. Holloway's pills can be confidently recommended to all persons suffering from disordered digestion or worried by nervous fancies or neuralgia pains. They correct acidity and heartburn, dispel sick headache, quicken the action of the liver, and act as alteratives and gentle aperients. The weak and delicate may take them without fear. .Holloway's pills are eminently serviceable to invalids of irritable con stitution, as they raise the action of every organ to its na tural standard, and universally exercise a calming and scda• tive influence, THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 19, 1864. The Situation of the South... (lrom the Index.) "All with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, ' Great is Diana of the Ephesians.' " Likely enough the silversmiths prevailed for a time, and the multitude were persuaded that Diana was a real god, and that St Paul was an imposter. Clamour will often drown the voice of reason. We doubt not the hoarse shouts of victory, proceed ing from those who fear that peace in America would put an end to their profitable trade, have led some persons to sup pose that the South is about to pass under the Yankee yoke. Wonderful credulity I Wonderful that any person can believe that the smellest of mice has brought fcrth the biggest of mountains. On Sept. 1 the North was sick of the war; after four years of tremendous effort it was confessed that the South was unconquered ; the cry was for M'Clellan and peace; Mr Lincoln was deserted by many of his promi nent supporters ; the New Fork Herald, the ready exponent of the popular sentiment, demanded an armistice; the Fede ral generals were urgent for reinforcements, but the Admi nistration postponed the draft, and gold was at 260. Ou Oct. 1 gold in New York had fallen to 190, the old talk of Southern subjection was renewed, Lincoln was the favourite candidate, loyal contractors ceased their croaking, and thanked God there was no chance of peace interfering with their profits. Why this change? Has Richmond fallen? Has Mobilo been captured ? Has Charleston surrendered after a 500 days' siege ? No, not one of these events, which might have palliated, though it could not justify, the North ern enthusiasm, has happened. Two reasons are assigned for the ecstacy of the North. Gen, Sherman is in Atlanta, asking and waiting for reinforcements, with a Confederate army in his front and a Confederate force operating in his rear. Gen, Sheridan, with 40,000 men, has at a cost of 5,000 men forced Early, with 20,000 men, to retreat to a fortified position. Such are the achievements that Mr Lincoln's loud mouthed prophets declare to be the immediate forerunners of the conquest of the South. So they said after the fall of Nashville, after the fall of New Orleans, after the fall of Vicksburg though, after all these reverses, the South has, with dauntless resolution and with undiminished strength, chastised her insolent, boasting enemy. It is irksome for us to answer such folly, but it is a duty from which we must not shrink. The mendacity of the Federals does not hurt the South. It signifies not to the Confederates that Mr Lincoln for electioneering purposes thanks the Almighty for bogus victories. But Mr Lincoln's prophets do not labour in vain, Through their European organs they en snare many victims. The Federal Administration wants men and money, and the one is procured in Ireland, and the other Germany, by the audacious misrepresentations of Mr Lincoln's European organs. Whether our warning be heeded or not, it is incumbent upon us to expose the fraud. Moreover, in the interests of peace we are bound to set forth the true state of the case—for our silence might be con strued into an admission that the task of subjugation is not hopeless, and so we might do harm to the cause of peace. We are aware that our sensitiveness in this respect will be called pusillanimity, just as the frankness of the Confe derate authorities, who will not lie and call defeat victory, is referred to as evidence of despair. But we never have con cealed, and never will conceal, our desire to see this vain and bloody war ended. We are not War Christians, and we could not enjoy the carnage, even though we could coin every drop of blood into cents and dollars. Frequent changes of fortune are characteristic of all wars, and though in the present American war it will be admitted that the balance of success is heavily in favour of the Con federates, their success has not been uninterrupted, Look at the campaigns of the past spring and summer. In Florida a Federal army was utterly routed. On the Red River Banks was signally defeated. In vain attempts to get to Richmond Grant sacrificed 100,000 men. Against this what are the vaunted triumphs of the Federals? But we are going to compare the military performances of North and South. Victories in the field and the capture of cites do not always presage a final triumph. If they did, the Netherlands would not have escaped from the dominion of Spain, and the United States would still have been appendages to the Crown of England. It is a happy omen that the South has been so fortunate in war, but her inde pendence rests upon a surer foundation than even the triumphs of her military genius and her devoted heroism. The North has not merely to conquer the Southern armies, but also the Southern people. It has failed to do the first, and the latter is a task the like of which has never yet been accomplished. It will not be denied that the North has been at her best and the South has been at her worst, The North has put forth all her strength, and iu four years has accumulated an oppressive debt, and fearfully depleted her fighting popula tion. In 1861 she had abundance of money, abundance of men, a navy without an opponent, and the Administration was permitted to disregard all rights and laws in order to push on the war. On the other hand, the South was taken at a fearful disadvantage. The young Confederacy was without an army and without arms. She was cut off from the markets of Europe. In her vast territory there was not a gun factory, not a rolling mill, not a powder mill. As yet her iron mines has been unexplored ; as yet no saltpetre had been collected in the country, Nay, even in the common necessaries of life the Confederacy was deficient. She was without clothing, and by a barbarous edict she was deprived of medicines. Look at the Confederacy of to-day. In 1861 she was the most dependent, now she is the most indepens dent, nation on the face of the earth. Now, if the blockade were indeed effective, and the South completely cut off from communication with the rest of the world, the Confederates could continue the struggle, Necessary food they have in abundance, and articles of luxury they have learnt to do without. Soldiers and civilians aro comfortably clad in homespun and long-cloth, the production of Southern cotton mills. Patriot armies i❑ the South are not so gaudily ar rayed as the mercenaries of Mr Lincoln, but they are as well furnished with weapons and ammunition. The North has been at its best, and the South at her worst. What has the North done ? Military critics who doubted not the ultimate triumph of the South, were of opinion that the Federal armies would march through the Confederacy and occupy the principal towns of the South without much opposition or difficulty. Very different, indeed, has been the result. Except New Orleans and Nashville, no large town in the Soule has been taken. Richmond, Charleston, Savan nah, Motile, and Wilmington have not been conquered; yet all these places are comparatively accessible to the forces of the enemy. The Mississippi River is closed against com merce, in spite of the gunboats of the Federals. InLouisiana the enemy holds New Orleans and a few plantations. Texas is almost free from the invader. Tho Federals are repre sented in Arkansls by a solitary garrison, Altogether the invader holds less Southern territory now than - he did in 1853. But it the North has not been able to overcome the South with unimpaired resources, how will she do so with a crippled treasury and diminished army? It may be asked if the South has not suffered as well as the North, and if she has not less means to oppose to the impaired resources of the enemy. Where is the evidence of Southern exhaustion ? Is she in want of arms an ammuni tion ? Certainly not. Is she in want of food and clothing ? Even the partisans of Mr Lincoln cease to prate about the South being starved out, Are the Southern armies less numerous ? They were never stronger—they wero never so strong as at present. There has been a terrible loss of life, but it is not an exhaustive loss, Does any one suppose that he casualties on the Southern side—we mean the killed and hen too severely wounded to resume service—are equal to 1,000 a week Now, a reference to the Southern popula- tion table will show that the number of males annually attaining the military age is 80,000, The accessions to the army are greater than the most exaggerated estimate of losses. The Southern armies, then, cannot be weakened by the continuance of the war on a scale of the last four years, and the North cannot increase its war power. We have said that the North has to conquer not only the armies but the people of the South. Now, the North has not yet acquired a yard of Southern territory. The Federals have held New Orleans for more than two years, yet they have made no way in the State of Louisiana, and if the Federal troops were withdrawn there would not be a ghost of a union feeling in New Orleans. What would beeome unionism in lientucky,iennessee, and Maryland if the Federal forces were withdrawn ? It is only by force of arms that Mr Lincoln can maintain loyalty in the North , he has utterly failed in a single instance to convert by force of arms a town or village of the South to unionism. w hat follows from this ? If tho whole South is to be kept in the Union, it must be garrisoned as well as overcome. But this can not be done. If the Southern people will not submit—if they will contend to the last they cannot be subjugated. " True I" exclaims the war Christian ; " then we will ex- .erminate the people of the South." That, too, is an im. possible task.: The experiment of exterminationg a people Las been tried under far more favourable circumstances, and has invariably and completely sailed. But in vain are all the lessons of the past. History perpetually repeats itself. The actors are different, the costumes are changed, the stage is now, but the plot of the drama is the same. The worst follies of the Governments of the Old World are repeated by the Government at Washington. When the colonies revolted from the mother country, the colonists learned how invincible is a resolute people, inhabiting a large coun try, against apparently overwhelming numbers. But the lesson is forgotten; and we now find the North trying to conquer the South, though the numerical odds are not nearly so much in her favour as were the odds in favour of England in the contest with her colonies. History abounds with examples of subjugated nations, but there is no example of a united people falling under a fur,, , ign dominion. in writing on this topic wo are somewhat in the position of the village pedagogue who euileavoured to prove to a thick-skulled clodhopper an axiom of Euclid. What can we do for those who dispute the logic of facts ? After our years of war the South have larger armies in the field ;han at any former period. Does this point to her speedy subjugatioir ? After four years of war the North occupies less Southern territory than she did after two years of war. Does this indicate the immediate conquest of the South ? After four years of war the North has not brought a ham let within the Union. Does this indicate the coming sub • . _ mission of the South? The North has solicited the South to come back to the - Union on her own terms, and the South has refused all such overtures. Does this hold out any hope of the restoration of the Union? Recruits in the North are becoming scarce and dear, tho finances of the North are becoming more and more deranged, the people of the North are becoming more and more divided. Do these things pro- mise a more triumphant prosecution of the foreign war ? Hamanly speaking, the task undertaken by the North was an impossible one, and the events of the war and the present situation demonstrate the impossibility. The war may go on for months and perhaps for years. It may be that the Northern Government will be strong enough to force its subjects to replenish its armies, and that the fiat of bankruptcy will not stop the war. But the South has nothing to dread on account of her independence. It is sorrowful beyond expression that more names are to be added to the long list of martyrs to the cause of Southern liberty, but that liberty will not be crushed by the madness of the North. It is the North that will suffer most by the prolongation of hostilities. A few weeks hence it will be seen that the present ecstasy is as unfounded as the former jubilations over the discomfiture of the South. Surely the hour is at hand when the Lincolnites will not be able to dupe Ireland and Germany, and rob the one of her sons and the other of her money. Surely the hour is at hand when even the people of the North will see things as they are, and refuse any longer to be the tools and victims of New England politicians and loyal contractors. COURT OF ALDERMEN. A Court of Aldermen was held yesterday at Guildhall— the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor presiding. The business was chiefly of a routine character. Several gentlemen were admitted to the freedom of the City. Three gentlemen, Mr William Ramsay Sugg, Mr John Poole, and Mr Nathaniel M'Nair, were sworn as brokers; and Mr W. Trotter and Mr John Marsh Vanhouse, jun., were allowed brokers. The Sheriffs presented their returns as to the state of the City prisons, and it appeared that the number of prisoners in Newgate was 142, in the City Prison at Hollo way 349, and in the Debtors' Prison 91. The report was accompanied by medical certificates as to the fit state of the prisons. LORD MAYOR'S DAY. The usual orders were issued in reference to Lord Mayor's Day, for the erecting of barriers and keeping the streets, Mr Alderman HALE (Lord Mayor elect) said it had been the custom for some years past to have men ih armour in the procession on Lord Mayor's day, and in consequence the streets had to be strewed with gravel, that the horses might keep their feet; and he wished to know whether the expense of the gravel was borne by the corporation or by the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs ? Mr Alderman COPELAND thought it a very extraordinary application. Ever sine: he had been connected with the corporation the expense had been borne by the Lord Mayor, who was provided with a good sum from the City's cash. and the Sheriffs, who had honour and dignity conferred upon them. Mr Alderman WILSON also thought it was the custom ever since he had been an alderman. Mr Alderman HALE did not see how what he had said could be construed into an application. He had merely asked a question, and he should not think of asking the corporation to bear the expense; and after what he heard, he would not accept it. The Court then adjourned. City Sewers Commission. The Commissioners of Sewers of the City of London met yesterday at the Guildhall, under the presidency of Mr Deputy and Under-Sheriff De Jersey. THE SUGGESTED CIRCUS AT LUDGATE-HILL. The Principal Clerk (Joseph Daw, Esq.) read a report from the Improvement Committee, to whom, our readers will remember, it was referred a short time since, to con sider a report of Mr Wm. Haywood, the engineer to the Com mission, in which he suggested the construction of a circus at the junction of Fleet-street and Ludgate-hill. The com mittee stated that they had carefully examined the plan laid before them by the engineer, and had had laid before them an estimate of the probable cost of carrying out the improvement. He had also laid before them a letter from the solicitor to the London, Chatham, and Dover Railway Company, acceding to the necessary arrangements for the formation of the eastern portion of the circus at Ludgate hilt upon the following terms, viz.:— " Ist. That the value of the land required be paid for in money, the amount to be determined by their engineer and the engineer to the Commission, and in case of difference, by a surveyor to be agreed upon between them, or, in default of such agreement, by an engineer appointed by the Board of Trade. " 2d. That the whole of the eastern portion of the widening and improvement, as shown on the plan, be com pleted by the Ist December next, the period at which the Ludgate station of the company is to be opened for public traffic. " 3d. That an agreement, embodying these terms, be forthwith prepared and executed by the Commissioners and the company. The committee stated that the area required for the two portions of the circus at Ludgate-hill was about 900 square feet; and the area of the space which the Commissioners were, by agreement with the company, at liberty to pur chase to widen Ludgate-hill, was about 1,858 square feet; that against the level of the latter portion the railway company was bound to set the area of the public ways taken by them for their railway, on terms arranged in the said agreement. In conclusion, the committee expressed their approval in general of the plan of the engineer, but recommended that, for the present, the portion a'; the end of Ludgate-hill only should be adopted ; and they asked that it might be referred back to them, to take such steps as they might consider necessary for carrying out that part of the improvement suggested. The CHAIRMAN at some length explained the nature of the negotiations which had taken place between the Lon don, Chatham, and Dover Railway and the Improvement Committee, and said the latter felt the improvement was of so important a character to the public, and would so faci litate the traffic that it should be carried out. Deputy BOWER moved the adoption of the report, and expressed a hope that the opportunity which now presented itself of carrying out a great public improvement would not be thrown away. Mr G. WALTER, whilst agreeing with the importance of the proposed improvement, thought the citizens ought not to bear the whole of the expense, but that the Corporation of London and the Metropolitan Board should be called upon to contribute towards it. (Hear, hear,) Deputy FARRAR moved, as an amendment, " That the consideration of the report be adjourned, and that a copy thereof be submitted to the next Court of Common Council for their consideration, with a view to obtain their ap proval of the same, and assistance in carrying it into effect." Deputy HouGHToN seconded the amendment, which after a few observations from Mr J. E. Saunders, one of the representatives of the City at the Metropolitan Biard o Works, Mr Straker, and other members, was put and nogg• tived. The report was then adopted. SEIZURE OF FISH IN THE CITY. A communication was laid bWre the Court from the clerk to the Fishmongers' Company, enclosing returns fur nished by Messrs Jay and Bendolph, meters to the com pany, showing an account of fish seized by them at and near B illingsgate-market, and on board boats lying off that place during the past quarter, the same being unwholesome and unfit for food. UNWHOLESOME MEAT. A. J. BAVLIS, Esq., the solicitor to the commission, pre sented the reports relating to the seizure of diseased meat in the City. In two of the cases Inspector 'Vylde had seized the meat in Newgate-market, the first being four quarters of a cow, which was in a very wet and emaciated state of disease, and evidently belonging to an animal that had suffered from the lung and foot and mouth disease ; and the second to four quarters of beef in a very diseased state, which were exposed for sale. The solicitor, in referring to the latter case, stated that on making further search the inspector found under a stall-board a hamper containing a large quantity of meat which had been boned and was in a very diseased state indeed. In both these cases the meat was seen and condemned by Alderman Sidney as being unfit for human food , and ho further desired the solicitor to bring the case under the notice of the Commissioners of Sewers, wbh a view to further proceeding taken taken against the guilty parties. The Court instructed the solicitor in both cases to take proceedings, as provided lot under the Nuisances Removal Act. The third case reported upon by the solicitor referred to a person whom he had, in accordance with instructions, sum moned fur sending a quantity of diseased meat to Newgate market for sale. The case was heard before Alderman Finnis, and the defendant was fully committed for trial at the ensuing sessions of the Central Criminal Court. SANATORY CONDITION OF THE CITY. Dr LETHEIIY. the medical officer of health, reported on the state of 268 houses that had been inspected during the week, and he submitted a list of 25 places for sanatory im provement. He also submitted a list of places requiring further proceedings on account of orders which had been already issu d, but not complied with. He likewise re ported that the lessee of the houses, Nos. 6,7, 8, and 10, Widegate-street, had been committed for eight days in con sequence of his not paying the fine imposed on him by the Lord Mayor for not completing the sanatory work ordered by the commission, Dr LETFIEBY reported on the state of the markets and slaughterhouses of the City, and stated that 2,1761bs meat had been condemned during the week as unfit for human f od. It was most of it diseased, or from animals that hid (lied from natural causes. He recommended two cases for prosecution. Fifty-two births and 39 deaths were reported during the week. The mortality returns were greatly below the aver age for the season. The causes of death did not indicate the existence of any serious disease, but rather that the state of the public health was satisfactory. Tilt GAS SUPPLY. As regarded the quality of the gas supply to the City, Dr LETTIEBY reported that the average illuminating power of the three companies ranged from 13.36 to 13.78 sperm candles. In that respect, therefore, all the compani es had exceeded the requirements of the act of Parliament. With respect to the purity of the gas, Dr Letheby stated that the quantity of sulphur in the City Company's gas was 19.5 grains per 100 cubic feet, the Chartered 18.6, but in the Great Central 20.7. Excepting, therefore, the Great Cen: tral, the amount of sulphur had been within the proportion sanctioned by Parliament. The Commissioners having disposed of some other busi ness, adjourned. SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS, TlMES.—There is, no doubt, much in the present state of Greece exceedingly unsatisfactory to her self as well as to her friends and wellwishers. The country has by no means recovered from the paroxysm of revolution which so fiercely agitated it two years ago. The evil times which it has gone through have left their miserable legacy in the shape of innumerable factions and inextinguishable discontents. The work of reconstruction has hardly commenced, and before anything can be done the whole edifice has fairly crumbled about the ears of the nation. King Otho with his heavy system of repression, Queen Amelie with her restless and un tiring industry, are gone, and their places filled by a Sovereign of another and a hostile race. An in credible number of Administrations have succeeded each other. The army is more formidable to the capital than the rebels or brigands, and the provinces are sinking into an almost hopeless anarchy. We hear of violent crimes at the very gates of Athens, and we hear nothing of any serious effort to develope the resources of the country or to put the finances on a sound footing. Added to all these causes of con fusion there is the acquisition of the lonian Islands and the necessity of amalgamating this extraneous substance into a body possessing itself scarcely any valid organisation. Nothing seems really active but the Assembly, and that, as usual in such cases, is quite taken up with the discussion of the funda mental law on which the Constitution is to be based. Things seem pretty much in the state into which they fell under the Government of Capo No one who knows the past history of . Greece, the real and urgent difficulties with which she has to struggle, and the exceedingly defective appliances of all kinds with which that struggle has to be con ducted, will be surprised at this state of affairs. The five-and-thirty years which have succeeded the emancipation of the country from the Turkish rule have been worse than wasted, and the whole work of reconstruction has to be begun over again with out the ardour, without the enthusiasm, without the great revolutionary names whose influence seemed to make almost anything possible, It was the practice of King Otho to employ in succession all the public men and all the parties in the country; it was a maxim of his Government never to employ any one without as far as lay in his power degra4l - him in the eyes of his fellow-citizens, exacting from him some concession, or engaging him in some act justly obnoxious to public censure. Here is a collection of difficulties sufficient to arouse the sym pathy and to command the forbearance of every foreign country. Every allowance ought to be made for an Oriental race struggling with means so inadequate against such an overwhelming mass of obstruction and anarchy ; yet we are informed that Lord Russell has addressed a Note to the Greek Cabinet, declaring that England recognises no factions in Greece and condemns anarchical demon strations. The Note further states that, in case of necessity, England will, in conjunction with France and Russia, take measures for the maintenance of order and the strengthening of the reigning dynasty. We have only a summary of the despatch before us, but we confess that, so far as we are able to judge, we view the appearance of such a docu ment with regret. We do not doubt that there are factions in Greece, just as we know there are factions in Ireland; and we admit, without difficulty, that it is not the duty of the English Government to re cognise any faction whatever. We are not aware that we have ever done so ; but we must, on the other hand, say that no expectation could be more chimerical or absurd than the hope that Greece could settle down under its new Government with out a long period of faction and discord. Faction is but another name for party. We at least have found it impossible to preserve freedom without the instrumentality of party, and party must necessarily have more weight and influence in proportion as freedom is newer and Government less firmly esta blished. We therefore see no reason for speaking with such extreme impatience and indignation of the manifestations of party spirit with which Greece abounds. The only question is, what is the best way to put an end to tnis state of things ? On this point we fear we are entirely at issue with Lord Russell. If we are to believe the reports which have reached us, he seems to think that the best course is to put down the factious leaders by armed force, and to strengthen the existing Government by foreign intervention. No one, we suppose, doubts the power of England, France, Russia, or any one of them, to put down by main force any Greek faction it pleases, but is it quite clear that such a proceeding is the best way to secure the end proposed ? The King of Greece cannot always be supported like the Pope by foreign troops, and the withdrawal of those troops is sure to be the signal for the starting into existence of innumerable file. tions. Are we prepared to make our intervention permanent or intermittent, ceasing for a while, and then recurring again as often as the necessity for it arises ? No country can be permanently governed, no society can be solidly established on such princi. ples. The time must come at last when it must be left to work out its own purification by its own in ternal fermentation, and when the only possibility of peace will be in the victory of one faction over another. The gift of liberty is but a mockery if it is to be attended by perpetual interference whenever it is not exercised to the satisfaction of those who gave it. We might as well abolish it at once as de stroy it under the pressure of repeated interventions. There is still another objection in this despatch which will not fail to suggest itself to the minds of our readers. The one result that was obtained by the great debate of last summer was believed to be that henceforth our Government will be less pros digal of their advice and interference in the affairs of foreign countries. The feeling of Parliament was unmistakably strong against armed intervention, and still stronger against despatches which, if not complied with by those to whom they were addressed seemed to require armed intervention as their neces sary complement. We heard abundance of protests against barking without biting, not because we wanted to bite, but because we did not wish that our wateh-dogs should continually Lark. The naa tional feeling was humiliated not because we did not assist the Danes, but because we adopted a tone which seemed to place us on the very verge of dis honour if we did not come forward to assist them. We are now in the month of October, a period justly dreaded by the friends of peace and order as the one which is usually selected for demonstrations of extraordinary Ministerial vigour. We regret that the precedent is allowed to become inveterate. We certainly are on the safe side in this instance; we have got France and Russia with us, and nothing but some anarchical factions of poor little Greece against us. There is no fear that we shall be treated as we were at Berlin and Vienna. But while the victory of one faction over the other, obtained by internal means, may leave no element of discord behind it, a victory by external force must ulti mately weaken the King's Government, and give its enemies the opportunity of representing it as supported by foreign bayonets against the will of the nation. Such despatches as the one we have been considering must necessarily have the effect of exciting the feelings of every Greek patriot against us, and doing that injury to our moral in. fluence which it never fails to sustain when i appeals to force instead of reason, POST.—Few persons are better qualified to speak on the subject of Indian finance than Mr Laing, for although his residence in India during the period when its exchequer was entrusted to his keeping was brief, it was certainly during that time that the majority of those reforms were effected which have contributed so much to the present commercial prosperity of our Eastern Empire. One is, there. fore, inclined to overlook the egotism which more than once betrayed itself in the course of an address recently delivered by him at Kirkwall, in considera tion of the unquestionable services which he has rendered to the State. The transition from the rule of a trading company to that of the Imperial Go verniment could not be effected in India without the change being severely felt; end the condition in which India found herself at the time when that change was rendered indispensable did not tend to diminish the effects of the shock. Mr. Laing, no doubt, correct:y describes the mutiny as having pro duced all the results of a revolution, and it unques tionably prepared the native population to transfer their allegiance to a Government which in so striking a manner had demonstrated its ability to maintain supreme control within its dominions. The territories of the East India Company had increased to such an extent that it was impossible for it to hope to retain in subjection the various races with which they were peopled without th© establishment of a despotism which, nevertheless, it wanted the power to make irresistible. The rule of the company may be said to have culminated in the viceroyalty of the Marquis of Dalhousie; but, notwithstanding no one possessed i n a higher degree all the qualities necessary to fit him for the arduous and almost irre- sponsible position which he fillEd than that states man, the measures which he adopted precipitated the catastrophe which has completely revolutionised the Indian Empire. The rule of the Marquis of Dalhousie was, as Mr. L.ing states, a splendid despotism, but at the same time was rotten to the core. That rottenness became apparent as Soon as the Governor-General had left the Indian shores ; and then, after a crisis which threatened the very existence of the British supremacy. Hindostan, a new era opened, which, if judged by th e favour able auspices under which it has com mence d , pro mises a future for India which might well be envied by the moat favoured countries on the face of the globe. The wars in which the East India Govert ment was engaged during the latter years of 1i existence, coupled with the mutiny which merge the termination of its career, not merely d rainer the Indian exchequer, but seriously encumbe red th national finances and lessened the credit of the Go vernment. So deeply involved, indeed,had the le: ter become, and so insecure was the condition!) Indian finance, that the first care of the Itnp erl6l Government was to effect, if possible, such reform as would at least enable India to emerge from be state of chronic indebtedness. To Mr. Wilson via entrusted this difficult task, and in endeavouring ti accomplish it he sacrificed his life. Mr. Laing eel needed him ; and althou g h h e pursued a poli c y di ferent from that of his predecessor, unjust to the memory of the former not to ache! , that his labours lightened, in no inconsiderably degree, the duty which the latter was called uP A e . I I to discharge. When Mr. Lain. , landed in 115 :1 1 , he tells us he found a deficit of i £6,000,000, " di new taxes unproductive and unpopular, the er e .. of the Government so low as to be unable to con mend a loan even at six per cent., and the . es; balances . in the Treasury at the lowest Pi n o, it would b which it was possible that the government. of 0 country . could be conducted. In this affairs he addressed himself to the work of refe d re i , by making a sweeping reduction in the elPe t e ture. The annual 'outlay was at this time !iv ° £28,000,000, and this was diminished forthwith sti the . extent of £5,000,000, and in the following Y e ol it was reduced by an additional £2,000, 000 ' An o, .these . sums, about £4,000,000 were saved by red tons in the military and naval establishments, a.,1, the remainder by pursuing a similar course vt oi 'i l respect . to . the civil service departments. At the se n s, position _ time remissions were effected in taxation ; the and lay on public works was increased, notwitheta",,e ing . which, owing to the buoyancy of the rev . au ; deficits of previous years became converted inteßof surplus. It is gratifying to know that the s i t e ee i o i obtained by Mr. Laing was not transient, and ~";o 1 the prosecution of the same economical system scmi i i l he contributed so much to establish has sin ce departure from India been followed by the t to good results. The great secret of financial B ° l '7 B in India seems to be to bestow with no grudgli hand all that is required for the development 0 11 : 41 material resources of the empire. Mr Laing,.cu been . all his life a man of business, and the bin which his recent address contained on the subJ ee ', o l remuneration . to the servants of the Goveronli'to, merit the . closest attention. "Real economy is gether inconsistent with cheeseparing. To do sq° ol cheaply you must do it with the smallest nent he n r o i the best possible hands. To get this you e atist erbe. only pay men well, but you must treat them oui rally, and make them zealous and hearty in Y A ) I6 service." Mr Laing is a practical economist, enla nr , can point to the results of the system he has P „ - gl. sued ; and we would therefore recommend the . 07 " 0 1 sell which he gives ,to the serious consideration 50 those gentlemen who, in the House of Commo n in constantly manifest the interest which they tees of the taxpayer by proposing to dock the salaries nt public servants. Everyone knows that if they t he work well done it must be well paid for, anur„"rd Government are the last in the world who can si'vt toignore this important fact. "To a Govertintea, like that of India," says Mr Laing, "is worth s le t to lion a•year—as a mere question of money, speak of higher considerations—that its whole O to of servants, civil and military, should feel that t State is a generous master, whom it is a pop" e d honour to serve faithfully." Mr Laing was the! it fore careful, notwithstanding the great teroPts,n to . reduce the apparently large salaries of the le","i i . public servants, to leave them comparatively pp' touched.. Retrenchment is not always synonr e n - a. with . economy. The maintenance of the vas t " fo . ministrative system which is needed for the P le : o s meet of India must t,lways cost what to EuroP e t ," Bo may appear an extravagantly large sum ; but n u , it is borne in mind how much depends on th e e to ciency of that administration, few will hesitat e he admit that if the paymasters err at all it shou ld on the side of generosity. COUNTRY MARKETS. fai r A fair average attend I6TOL—TITESDAY attendance of the trade to 'day, an d il oo inquiry for wheat, barley, and oats was experienced . at idea seems pretty g e n era l th a t gra i n a t present prices 1 is lowest, and is a good investment. lERPOOL—TUESDAY. There was a fair en attendance of both town and nonntri de d dealers at market t o -d a y, an d th e b usines s done was a limite character. Wheat sold slowly, at the price s of et Friday, or at about ld p er cen t a l l owe r than this dal We l In Flour in limited request, and at about Friday's prices. poi barley. beans, and peas no change. Oats and oatmee mo o be quoted at a slight decline, but difficult to move. I n " ) ," e id corn was much pressed for sale—mixed American WO '- at 27s Qd per 4801 b. . r There was a smaller show of English grain at 0 00 market this week. The demand for wheat to-daY ,de. fair, and prices are not quotably lower , with a firmtr-ero Barley about the same as last week. Beans and oats W a little cheaper. Averages—Oct. 10—Wheat 39s Sid per q r * —Oats . 22s Old --* —Beans 40s 41d —Peas ..37s 6 , 1 ---.— —Barley 31s Biri --- —Rye ..--s Od ""'" MELTON MOWBRAY—TUESDAY. one; The following were the currencies :—New whit t ! w— n ne; 415,0 d to 44s Od; new red, .)7s Od to 41s "per 3 0 t o t.; beans, 38s to 42s for old; new sorts, 35s to 37s pe r " for barley, —s to —s for malting, and 27s to 29s per (I ,S . 24d grinding; new oats, 20s to 25s Od per 24 stone; old, to 295. SHEFFIELD—TUESDAY. l'Ceo °I Business was very small, except in the finer qua- I , l d the wheat, in which trade, however, was not active , 11 7; dad previous rates were maintained. Beans in moderate mand, at slightly increased currencies. Flour, barl e y , and other articles at late prices. o s Oa Red wheat, per load of 3 imperial bushels...lss Od to o j, 4- 18S A White ,) ' ...17s Od. o 6 O d 1 S . a New red ..15s Od t o ~ „ New white „ ), ..16s 5d to rie ', i d ...15s 6d to 1 65 •,'i Beans 71 Peas, per qr Grinding barley, per qr Malting ditto , 7, ** Oats ...... 1) ‘ v v g it Flour,' Is 5d to la 10d per 14 lb. Foreign Mail Packet List. MAILS DUE. n ,t 19' Australia and Mauritius, via Southampton ............ 12, via Marseilles ......... 4. Brazil and Cape Verds, by British packet .... r4° ,“29. Cape of Good Hope, Ascension, and St. Helena China, Penang, and Singapore, via Southamptoo.oot. 2 /, via Marseilles ..°et. Falkland Islands Gibraltar, via Southampton n t 19 ' India (Calcutta), and Ceylon, via Southampton. •- c ' 0.. --via Marseilles Oct, _, India (Bombay), via Southampt on Oct. "i. Oct. ` . via Marseilles Nov. Portugal.... Malta, Egypt, and Aden, vi a S ou th am pt on ...... Oct. n i, O c t. via Marseilles ....... O. Newfoundland . . c t. u Oporto and Vigo U. S. and British N. America, by B r it. p a cket.... Oc t ' by U.S. packet... • t. 1.. by Canadian packet. oc All parts of West Indies, including Chili, Peru, j Oct. 29 ' California. and British Columbia. In the Paris corn market last week the f ° 0 11 5 : marks of flour showed a decline, being quoted at 481 ''' the 157 kilos, or 50c lower—wheat has also receded Yie? the price being 27f to 28f 50c the 120 kilos, according tc, quality—rye is unvaried at 15t 750 the 115 kilos has improved 50c, selling at 15f 250 to 15f 530 the 1 ", kilos—oats are unchanged at 14f 50 c t o 15f the 100 kilo:: 1 At the last cattle market at Sce aux , oxen sold at if 160 "- t 1 If 46c the kilo—calves at if 40 c t o if 78 c — an d sheeP i ' - ... 34c to if 64c, At Poi ss y th e p r i ces were if 10c to if 44c .. te If 32c to if 72c—and if 28c to lf 28c to lf 58c, respectiO'i. Births. ear CARTHEW.—On the 18th inst., at Kensington Palac e.° dens, Mrs. Carthew, of a daughter. CAMBRIDGE.—On the 16th inst. , at Fairfield, ne ar sac' mouth, the wife of H. P. Cambridge, Esq. , of a e,,,, heir. rc' e ' THURSBY.— On the 17th inst., at No. 7, Eastern -ter o f 0 Brighton, the wife of Major James Leigh Thursbh daughter. _ Marriages. e s' DICKSON—WATsoN.—On the 15th inst, , ' a t Sow.. to aington, Thomas George Dickson, E tl of Athe r34 Annette, eldest daughter of W. M. Watson, Egi r c ; OP WARE--WARDE.—On the 17th inst., at Hob' l r ' i . -l of Brompton, S.W., Captain Rot -..t Ware 49th ite,g" . 'dia 1, Pelham Villas, South Kensington, to ' Emma 'Al third daughter of the late John Wards, Esq of 1 3 °"' ton Monchelsea, Kent. Deaths. EN Ep •A av iv rak s n:B - 6r On d,q6 " ,, h . e 17th inst., at Buxton, Derbyshi re ' a J!l i t 1 1 0 Q.C., of 30, Cumberland-terrace, lleg' Go_ODE.—On the 13th inst., at Hyde, Mr. John Gr °° : t i r e j - el f f 9, Park-road, H o ll owa y, an d o f 10 , Upper King" Bloomsbury, aged 38. i , ro ore" JOHNSTON.—On the 14th inst., at Beaulieu, Wil je ' — hill, Edmund Johnst on , Esq., aged 67. HARTOPP. —On the 16th insr , at Four Oaks-park, vow wickshire, Sir William Edmund Cradock HartoPP, aged 67. HEYWARD.—On the 15th inst., at King's-cross, I'l Heyward, Esq., of Waterloo House, aged 38. ' P SO WALLER.—On the 15th inst., at Felixstowe Ipaw- ; c -h ' folk, Major Charles Waller, R,A., aged 38. -$• London: Frill Zed and Prnished by WI LLIAM ANI )11 : of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at TrIE SUN Ofriee ,II.J of Strand, in the Precinct of , the Sivoy, n the CoU Alichili,iiex,—Wedneellay, °eV:4w 19, ISOL